Manchester United's cavalry are ready to bolster Sir Alex Ferguson’s troops. The Reds’ injury pile-up has been one of the most crippling the club has ever had to deal with.

Manchester United's cavalry are ready to bolster Sir Alex Ferguson’s troops. The Reds’ injury pile-up has been one of the most crippling the club has ever had to deal with.

United’s training HQ at Carrington has resembled a bomb site recently as the complex goes through a multi-million pound facelift centred mainly on a new state-of-the-art medical centre.

It is ironic that its doors could swing open for business next month just as the bulk of the injuries to Fergie’s squad begin to clear up.

But the Reds boss will be delighted his pool of players will be boosted now that the campaign begins in earnest.

There are a few November friendlies on the international calendar, but the World Cup qualifiers will be completed for 2012 tomorrow night bar a home match for Jonny Evans’ Northern Ireland against Azerbaijan on November 14.

The Irish fixture apart, the serious stuff is over until March and now the Reds can get their teeth into the season.

And a key trio are set to boost the depleted United ranks, who’ve fought manfully since the last international break in September.

Since Fergie re-assembled his squad after those qualifiers last month, United have walked an injury tightrope, mainly in defence.

During the course of picking up victories against Wigan and Galatasaray, Nemanja Vidic’s encouraging return from last season’s cruciate knee ligament injury ground to a halt as he was forced to undergo surgery on a cartilage problem.

United battled on against Liverpool to win at Anfield, beat Newcastle in the Capital One Cup, suffered a setback at home to Spurs, but hit back to win at Newcastle in the Premier League on the back of a victory in Cluj in the Champions League.

It hasn’t always been pretty, but the Reds have made it through with a 100 per cent start in Europe and are second in the league.

Now Fergie is set to have two players back for Saturday’s home match with Stoke City.

Chris Smalling has not played for the Reds since the final Old Trafford match of last season against Swansea.

He picked up a serious groin injury in that game, and missed both Euro 2012 with England and the Olympics as a result.

In July, the 21-year-old central defender was putting in the work at Carrington while his team-mates left for the South Africa leg of the pre-season tour and he then broke his foot in training. Smalling, however, returned to full training last week, and is in line to provide much-needed back-up for Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans, who have been holding the central defensive fort alone.

Ashley Young has not been seen in match action since complaining of a knee problem after the Premier League match against Fulham in the second match of the season.

Phil Jones is not quite at the end of his road to recovery following his knee operation last month.

He’s not played at all for United this season but a possible comeback date against Arsenal on November 3 is on the cards.

Fergie has been able to re-introduce Darren Fletcher and Antonio Valencia briefly prior to the international break.

The Ecuadorian winger made a comeback as a second-half substitute against Newcastle following the leg injury he suffered at Anfield.

The 27-year-old was suspended for his country’s World Cup qualifier against Chile last Friday, but is expected to return against Venezuela tomorrow night.

The long-haul flight to South America might not be welcome, but more match time in Puerto La Cruz certainly will be.

Meanwhile, Fletcher played a full 90 minutes against Newcastle in the Capital One Cup and Cluj in the Champions League, and played for Scotland against Wales last Friday night as he continues to defy the chronic stomach illness that forced him into an extended break last season.

And another match under his belt against Belgium tomorrow will also ensure a fit and sharp midfielder will be available to United come Saturday.

If all return to Carrington on Thursday fully fit, Fergie will be able to choose from his strongest squad so far this season on Saturday.

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